Oct. 16 is National Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day

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When Alicja Lonczak of Enfield was just 29, she received the shock of her life upon learning she had breast cancer. The discovery came in the form of a lump in her left breast. A biopsy that ultimately confirmed the bad news.

"My first thoughts were about the family my husband and I hoped to start one day. We had been married for less than a year, and I knew that chemo could have adverse effects on my fertility. I dreaded telling my husband and my parents the biopsy results because I knew it would be heartbreaking for them," she said.

Lonczak had a lot to consider in terms of treatment. She elected to have a bilateral mastectomy with the placement of tissue expanders. About a week after her surgery, she also did a cycle of in vitro fertilization to preserve her chances of one day having a biological child. The cycle produced two embryos, now frozen for the future.

"I opted for a double mastectomy because I didn't want to have to live with the fear of getting cancer in my other breast. Mentally it was better for me for both of them to be gone."

Frequently now when a woman undergoes a mastectomy, there's no need to actually remove the entire breast. Rather the surgeon removes all of the breast tissue, similar to carving a pumpkin. There are many options for women to consider.

"Skin sparing mastectomies are performed approximately 75% of the time in my practice," said Reconstructive Surgeon Dr. Melissa Johnson, who performed Lonczak's surgery. "Nipple sparing is much less often used 15-20% and classic mastectomies are needed for advanced disease, less than 5% of the time."

Unfortunately, when most women hear mastectomy, they only consider the classic version where the entire breast is removed, however, skin sparing is ontologically sound but leaves behind the skin. Here's where donation plays a role.

Dr. Johnson explains that donor skin is processed to remove all of the living cells. The acellular dermal matrix/ grafts (ADM) are permanent scaffolds. In breast reconstruction, the grafts are sutured to allow for a more natural shape and better breast fold on the lower portion of the breast.

"Prior to ADMs, surgeons would elevate a lateral muscle," adds Dr. Johnson. "The current operation is less painful and the cosmetic results are generally better. The grafts will actually get incorporated into the normal chest wall tissues, whereas a foreign body such as prosthetic mesh will not."

Given the prevalence of breast cancer, there's an especially high demand for tissue donation.

To raise awareness about mastectomy options, Oct. 16th has been deemed "National Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day" or Bra Day USA.

Lonczak is still going through the reconstruction process. She has this message for all "could-be" donors.

"I would tell them to try to put themselves in the shoes of the people who they would be helping. If they would be willing to consider a donation, they could have a positive impact on another person that would last a lifetime."

For more information about LifeChoice Donor Services, Incand to join the Donor Registry, visit http://www.lifechoiceopo.org or call 1.800.874.5215.